Mapping groundwater sources by CSIR will help to utilise groundwater for drinking purposes: Union Minister

Source: This post is based on the article “Mapping groundwater sources by CSIR” published in PIB on 30th August, 2021.

What is the News?

The Union Science and Technology Minister has said that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is using the latest technology to map sources of groundwater in arid regions that will help to discover water for drinking.

Background:

1. Northwestern India includes parts of  Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab. It covers nearly 12% of the total geographical area of the country and is home to more than 8 crore people.
2. However, the annual rainfall in the Northwestern states ranges from less than 100 to 400 mm. So, this area faces an acute shortage of water throughout the year.

What is being done to overcome this shortage of water?

1. CSIR along with National Geophysical Research Institute(NGRI) is implementing the High-Resolution Aquifer Mapping & Management Project in Arid Regions of North-Western India.
2. Aim of the Project: To map the potential sites for groundwater withdrawal and conservation.
3. The technique used: Under the project, the Heli-borne geophysical mapping technique is being used to provide a high-resolution 3D image of the subsurface up to a depth of 500 meters below the ground.
4. Significance: This technique is cost-effective, precise and is useful to map large areas (districts/states) within a short time to map the vast extent of groundwater resources in arid regions of our country.